PD-Trak Project Portfolio Management Software - Quality Function Deployment (QFD)

PD-Trak™ Quality Function Deployment (QFD)

Quality Function Deployment is a powerful tool to plan products and their specific characteristics and required manufacturing processes. It starts with capturing the voice of the customer (VOC) and next performs competitive analysis as a basis for planning specific technical characteristics of a product to maximize customer value. In addition to providing a rigorous approach to planning, QFD facilitates product team communication and collaboration. QFD is described in more detail in a paper, "Customer-Focused Development with QFD".

The PD-Trak™ supports all four phases of quality function deployment by providing the a comprehensive set of QFD tools. The software includes detailed instructions for performing QFD and includes an example.

Customer Needs Dictionary

The Customer Needs Dictionary is used as part of the Voice of the Customer (VOC) process to document and explain statements of customer needs and later define technical characteristics derived in the Product Planning and Deployment Matrices. The Customer Needs Dictionary is illustrated below.

Customer Needs Dictionary

Product Planning Matrix (House of Quality)

Once the customer needs are understood and defined in a Customer Needs Dictionary, the process continues with a Product Planning Matrix. Prioritized customer needs are used as the basis for performing competitive analysis. Critical technical characteristics or product requirements are then derived; product trade-offs are evaluated; and benchmarking, risks, costs and customer importance is considered in establishing product specifications. The analysis and planning done with the Product Planning Matrix becomes the basis for the critical product requirements and strategy in the Project Brief and for developing a comprehensive Product Specification. The Product Planning Matrix is illustrated below:

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Product Planning Matrix

Concept Selection Matrix

Once the product strategy, critical technical characteristics, and target values have been determined with the Product Planning Matrix, product concept alternatives are developed. These concept alternatives are then evaluated using the Concept Selection Matrix. The concept selection matrix is illustrated below.

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Concept Selection Matrix

Part/Assembly Deployment Matrix

Once a concept alternative has been selected, the next level of planning is done for critical subsystems, assemblies or parts with the Deployment Matrix. The Deployment Matrix is illustrated below.

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Deployment Matrix

Process Planning Matrix

After the product is designed, its production processes are planned with the Process Planning Matrix. The process planning matrix is illustrated below.

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Process Planning Matrix

Note that the Control Plan also provided in PD-Trak performs the same function as the QFD process and quality control matrix.

For further information, please contact us at: info@pd-trak.com or at 925-484-8436.

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